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Immigration Bill Takes Center Stage

The Senate returns today for what could be the decisive week for immigration legislation. Many lawmakers will no doubt prefer debating the bill rather than discussing it with voters back home.

Senators who spent their Memorial Day breaks back in their home states reported getting an earful from constituents who were either unhappy with provisions that would allow some illegal immigrants to qualify to stay in the United States or with proposals that would make it more difficult for family members to enter the country.

But the outcry from the right seemed much more vociferous than from the left and it is conservative critics who will be most determined to derail the measure this week if they remain as unhappy with it as they were when they left last month. Both Republicans and Democrats are planning to pursue a series of amendments in the next few days aimed at various aspects of the bill, including the guest worker program, the point system that would be applied to applicants for residency and the current backlog of applicants.

Approval of any of the more contentious changes could fracture the fragile bipartisan coalition behind the bill, with much of the attention on the support of Senators Jon Kyl, Republican of Arizona, and Edward M. Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts.

But the big moment could come if Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority leader, decides to try to force an end to the debate by the end of the week. That would test whether the opponents could rally the votes needed to block the measure or whether supporters could muster the 60 votes to break a filibuster and send the bill to the House.

Senator Ken Salazar, Democrat of Colorado and one of the architects of the bill, predicted Sunday the measure would survive.

“I think it will pass the Senate,” Mr. Salazar said on CBS’s “Face the Nation.” “And I expect that it will pass the House of Representatives, and it will be signed by the president, because this is one of the most fundamentally important issues for America today.”

The House intends to deal this week with a measure Democrats do not expect the president to sign – a Senate bill expanding embryonic stem cell research. Though President Bush has promised to veto the measure, Democrats think this is a fight they can win. The Senate was close to the level of support needed for an override when it passed the bill in April though the House was still considerably short. But even if Democrats cannot overcome the anticipated veto, they believe they end up with a political winner when the president again rejects the popular legislation.

The amnesty provisions of the bill will result in not just a population increase of 12,000,000 or so, but many millions more, since the 12,000,000 will then be enabled to bring in their extended families. The nation will be further bankrupted providing the social services they will require.

Seriously they should pass this law.. There are too many rich people who don’t want to see this bill pass. When you pass this bill. Economy will remain strong. You don’t need any more outsourcing. You know who will benefit the most. Most tech companies and other firms won’t have to hire people from outside. If u kill this bill, immigration will be back to square 1 and they will fight. People come here to make a living. They will go back after a few years. Its common sense. You want a stronger america or a weak america.

I am so sick of these politicians saying what a great plan this is. It is the same amnesty plan they passed in 1986. Now they want to push in down our throats again. If they had done their jobs, and enforced the 1986 laws, we would have this mess.
They are saying that they can’t deport 12 million people, well lets 12 million of us stop paying our taxes, I bet they could round us up. This president and this congress should be impeached for not upholding the laws they swore to uphold.

Gosh, the Congress might just pass SOMETHING under Democratic control. I wonder why they think we the people should believe that they will enforce THIS new law. They seem wholly unwilling to exercise their constitutional duty with respect to enforcing the current laws. By the way I wonder how much of the 700 miles of fencing that was previously APPROVED has been built. Maybe that would be a gauge as to how successful the new immigration bill will be.

I would be willing to believe that this “law” had
a chance of making a difference if ALL the players had an earmark they wanted tied to its success.

These guys are beyond parody, they are collectively a big, sorry joke.

I pray to God Congress passes the reform bill. We must bring into light millions of hard-working men and women who deserve chance at citizenship and this bill is a good start.
Say no to racism, bigotry and discrimination.

This bill is INSANITY they’re only interested in big business and hispanic votes ! This will break the backs of our healthcare systems education systems and expolde social service , all at the expence of the middle class taxpayer. WHO PAYING for twenty (not twelve) million uneducated , unskilled , non-english speaking , low wage earning illegals ??? Please write or call your Senators and Congresspeople and tell them to stop this MADDNESS !

The very first important thing is this bill
was failed last year and this is the second
term they are going to vote for it.

Very important thing is most of the undocumented
illigal immigrants are small wages poeple.

When the President is saying that they are
the back bone of the economey.

If theses senators cannot think properly for
the economey while homeland security is taking
care about the background checks it looks very
simple that the senators doesnt know any thing
for making good decessions and just hawling that
its amnesty.

I think our great President should declare a
conditional amensty so that there wont be any
problem.

Nothing will work until you absolutely SEAL the border. Put the burden of identifying a new hire as a US citizen on the employer. If they hire an illegal, fine them and/or jail time. He’ll think twice of hiring someone with a phony driver’s license or social security card. NO AMENSTY!! There are millions of US citizens out of work but these companies would rather hire an illegal because they work for minimum wages. SEAL THE BORDER AND ENFORCE IT!!!

It is easy to see the downfall of illegal immigrants, but not everybody realizes the positive impact they have on our country. They do the jobs that we feel that we are above: They wake up early and prepare food for restaurants, they mow our lawns when we are too busy ourselves, many even raise our children as nannys. Most do not come here to cause harm, they come to support themselves and their families. Not everybody is lucky enough to be born into a country of opportunity and although we cannot be the answer to everybody’s problems, why not allow these people to stay here legally? It’s a good start. And besides, this bill will allow the border to be protected more, eventually slowing the illegal flow of people. Doesn’t this sound like a compromise that works in everybody’s favor?

Why would anyone believe we can close the border? Why would anyone believe we will enforce laws against hiring illegal aliens? Why would anyone believe that we will catch the aliens that over stay visas? Why would anyone believe that “guest workers” will go home after two years. Why would anyone believe that we will find and deport them? Why would anyone believe that this law will not cause a rush of illegals to enter the country to be ready for the next “amnesty”

There should not be any talk about Immigration. The ilegals in this contry today should all be sent packing.It is clear that they dont respect america because every second they are here they are breacking the law of this great nation.The key here is they are ilegal. If they realy want to be americans “thats why they want to come here to enjoy this countrys freedoms” then they should go through the legal system.Not just sneak in and expect every body to welcome them.AMERICAN BORN AND RAISED

I don’t know who came up with the “unskilled” and “uneducated” word on this topic … most of the ilegals i know went to college and hold some good jobs , again they canot get visas because we have a waiting line of 8 years … the greatest cientists of america … WERE NOT AMERICANS … think about it , Amnesty or not , I SUPPORT IT

I came here as a student and graduated but couldn’t get a company to sponsor me because of the complicated system. I tried my best to remain in legal status but the system screwed me up. I was arrested last year for working illegaly as a stock broker for a brokerage firm. My case is pending trial. I hope the laws will change before I go to court. This past tax season I was in the 35% tax bracket which I paid despite spending months at the detention center. My parents and I have spent thousands of dollars in application and lawyer fees just to stay here to live a better life. I love this country! I pledge my allegiance to its flag and to the country where it stands. I hope people here will understand our plight.

cure the econemy cap credit card rates at 10% raise interest rates on saving to at lest 6%
why haven’t the two parties been able to tell the people what branch of our three branches of goverment does the FEDERAL RESERVE belong?
because it does not belong to the people, it is a private global intity that they must answer to
google the fed board members and you will find a IMF WORLD BANK connection

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